Lettice gave a little start. “I knew they talked of it, but I didn’t know it meant that they would go soon. Do they really mean to join the army at once?”
“So Joe says.”
“And will you go? and Brother William?” Lettice asked in visible distress.
“If we are needed. They are getting up companies everywhere, to protect the state.”
Lettice gave a deep sigh, and clung closer to him. He was a pleasant-looking lad of eighteen, with curling, ruddy brown locks and fearless blue eyes, and with such a winning, careless, happy nature as caused many a little lass to give her smiles to him. “So you don’t want to stay under Aunt Martha’s wing any longer,” he said, smiling.
“No, I’d rather be under Betty’s. Does she know I am coming?”
“She expects you, and is in a twitter of delight over having you back again with us.”
“Then don’t let us tarry.” And, indeed, she cut her good-bys very short, and with her brother was soon cutting across fields to her old home, there to be welcomed joyously by Sister Betty and the servants.
“I declare, Letty, you grow like a weed!” was Betty’s greeting as, with her baby in her arms, she came into her sister-in-law’s room that evening, to watch her make her evening toilet. “Have you many pretty things?”
“A few. Aunt Martha doesn’t encourage extravagance in dress.” Lettice drew down the corners of her mouth and dropped her eyes in a little prim way, while Betty laughed.